Q&A 73
Q. So back to the 12 days of Christmas... Why 12 days of Christmas?
A. Ah yes...
First of all, Christians did not have any public liturgical celebrations until 313AD when Emperor Constantine decreed Christians should be allowed to practice their faith in public without the harassment and persecution they had endured practically right from the Crucifixion up until then.
In the east, they celebrated Christmas, Epiphany, the Baptism of Christ and the miracle at Cana all on one day: 6th of January. This celebration tended to focus more of what we have been celebrating today: the Baptism of Jesus.
Why they chose 6th January, I do not know. But choose it they did, 12 days after Christmas.
Q. And the carol, any significance?
A. It doesn't seem to have been composed with any deeper meaning.
"Nevertheless, the traditional association between the gifts mentioned in the song and various spiritual gifts is a fun way to turn a seemingly secular Christmas carol into a valuable catechetical tool. So let's have fun with it!
Partridge in a pear tree - Jesus Christ, symbolized as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from helpless nestlings.
Two turtle doves - Old & New Testaments
Three French Hens = Faith, hope, charity
Four Calling birds - The Four Gospels
Five Golden Rings - The Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
Six geese a-laying - Six days of creation
Seven Swans a-swimming - 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids a-milking - 8 Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten Lords a-leaping - 10 Commandments
Eleven pipers piping - The 11 faithful disciples
Twelve drummers drumming - 12 articles of the Apostles Creed
Happy feastday!
10thJanuary 2016